Page 27

I wait for him to elaborate but he simply proceeds to eat his food and drink his wine in silence.

I want to ask him more, to demand to know if he has children already, but something stops me.

There's something about the stony set of his face that tells me this is a matter he doesn’t wish to discuss.

I decide to take him at his word and trust in what little assurance he has given me.

“Very well.” I reply. “You realise the marriage must take place as soon as possible and in secret? Are you amenable to this?”

He nods, “Yes, I don't have a problem with that. It’s preferable to the pomp and nonsense that usually accompanies a royal wedding.”

I smile, on this at least we agree.

“I hope it doesn't cause any discord with members of your family,” I say. “I'm aware both your parents are deceased but I believe you have a brother.”

“Yes, but I doubt very much if Prince Mikil will care one way or the other if he's at our wedding.”

I note a slight sourness to his tone when he speaks of his brother. “Are you not close?” I ask.

“We used to be, but the death of our father and another matter have caused us to drift apart. He is now more concerned with ruling Ellerban than anything else, so I doubt the issue of my getting married will bother him. Indeed, he may welcome it.”

“Oh, he is your older brother?”

“No. He is my younger brother, but an incident took place which prevented me from taking the throne after my father's death, and so he ruled in my place. Now he wishes to remain on the throne and have me declared unfit to rule.”

I suspect this is a reference to his mental state, and I wish to ask him more questions about this, but I’m unsure how to proceed regarding such a delicate subject.

“Oh, you seem fine to me,” I observe. “I can't imagine on what grounds he seeks such a declaration.”

He looks at me and smiles as if he appreciates my vote of confidence in him. “Thank you. It's true, for a time I wasn't fit to sit on the throne, but that time has now passed, and I wish to take my rightful place as King to my people. However, now I have to deal with my brother’s objections.”

I think back to the night in the forest and the sheer cruelty of his brother's actions and a cold shudder ripples through my body.

Ever observant, he notices immediately. “Queen Elinor, are you all right?” he asks.

“Yes,” I assure him. “I felt a slight chill, that's all, nothing to be concerned about. At least we may have the company of your men at the wedding. I spoke with Myreena this evening and she says they are recovering well.”

A broad smile lights up his face and the dark clouds leave his eyes.

“Yes. They are getting stronger by the day and I think they will soon be on their way to a full recovery. The work your healer has done with them is nothing short of miraculous and I will be forever indebted to you and her for what you have done.”

I’m touched by the deep sincerity of his words and the depth of emotion that causes a slight quiver in his voice.

“It’s my pleasure. I’m glad they’re improving and so very glad I decided to whisk you away to Ardvalla on the night I did.

Myreena is impressed with their strength and how fast they are recovering. ”

He sits a little straighter in his seat and smiles. “They are Ellerban and two of the finest men in all the realm.”

“Yes,” I reply. “Myreena is so impressed by them she wishes we had more of their ilk in Ardvalla. I think it was her way of hinting we should keep them here and perhaps encourage them to marry Ardvallan women.”

The prince cocks an eyebrow at me. “I presume she knows nothing of your plan?”

“No, not a thing. Kes and the Khaleeni are the only ones who know of my intentions towards you. However, having someone as highly regarded as Myreena already predisposed to my plan will go a long way to gaining approval from the High Council.”

He looks a bit puzzled. “Do you need to gain their approval before we can wed?”

“Technically, no,” I reply. “However, if I marry without it I’ll make more enemies on the council than I already have.”

His eyebrows furrow together in further puzzlement. “You’re the queen,” he says, “enemies be damned. Advisors advise. Queens rule.”

He says this last sentence with such force that I find my expression caught somewhere between shock and a smile. “I can see ruling with you by my side would be interesting,” I say as I take a sip of my wine.

“This is your Kingdom, Queen Elinor, and you must rule it as you see fit but be in no doubt, I will encourage you to be true to yourself every step of the way. You are the Queen and the caretaker of your people, not a bunch of trumped up advisors drunk on the elixir of power.”

A feeling of warmth floods my core at the prospect of having such formidable support by my side as I rule. Support just for me, not a facade made up of a bunch of self-serving narcissists. I smile. “I like the way you think, Prince Ronan.”

He lifts his glass and clinks it against mine. “I think we'll make a good team, you and I,” he says as the serving girls enter with dessert.

Once they leave he sets his glass on the table and takes my hand in his once again. “There are but two things I will ask of you should my seed prove good and we move forward with our plans to marry.”

He pauses as if unsure whether to proceed.

“Yes? I ask. “Pray tell, what are they?”

“I'm aware of your need to be married sooner rather than later. However, I would ask that we wait as long as we possibly can for my men to sufficiently recover so they may stand for me at the wedding.”

I smile. “That's not a problem and judging by the speed at which they’re recovering I don't think we'll have to wait too long.”

He returns my smile. “Good. Thank you. Secondly, I pledge you my wholehearted support as your husband and your king. All I ask in return is that you support me in my intention to take back the Ellerban throne from my brother and take my rightful place upon it as king of my people.”

His expression is an intoxicating mix of hope, sincerity and trust, and I feel a little bit of my heart giving itself over to this man. “Of course I will support you in this,” I reply as I consider how much better off the Ellerban people would be with him as their king rather than his brother.

A broad smile brightens his face and his eyes sparkle with delight. He raises his glass. “A toast” he declares.

I raise my glass to meet his and find myself smiling almost as broadly as him.

“To my seed, it's harvesting and all the possibilities it bears for the future of Ardvalla and Ellerban.”

I can't help laughing at his brash words. “To your seed, Prince Ronan,” I reply as I raise my glass to his, “and its limitless possibilities.”

All I've got to do now is figure out how I'm going to get it out of him.